Burglar-alarm system.



J. WATKINSi BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Ku: 2 L p d e m na D... m M .hw 2 G. u A D E L H N o d A c U DI DI .nn 4 @U U 1. M. WATKINS.

BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.25. |915.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. e.

TR @Tril JAMES M. WATKINS, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BURGLAR-ALARM SYSTEM.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.. 25, 12115..

Application filed August 25, 1915. Serial No. 47,249.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Jamas M. VATKINS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar-Alarm Systems, of which the follo-wing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to burglar alarm systems and more particularly tothat kind of system where one or more buildings are wired and connected with` a central alarm station some distance away.

As is well known, with the systems at present in use, where it is desired that a particular window or door being entered be indicated at the central station, it is necessary that a separate circuit be run for each window or door. The same applies to a system where two or more buildings are to be guarded. This entails numerous circuits and a complex system, and usually but one circuit is run to the central station. When this is done if the wire at one window or door be cut, it opens the entire circuit in the building, and if two buildings be wired in the same circuit, the circuit of the other building is `also opened, thus making the second building accessible to thieves without giving a warning.

Tn providing my system, I have endeavored to overcome the objections above noted, and l have provided a system wherein any number of doors or windows in one building `and any number of buildings may be individually guarded by but one circuit running to the central station. Moreover', the exact location of the window or door in either of the buildings, which is being opened, is indicated at the central station.

Furthermore, my system is suoli that it may be used in connection with the usual Yatchmans call box and fire alarm circuits, thus substantially incorporating three systems in one and saving the complexity and expense of three separate circuits.

These and other advantages will be evident to those skilled inthe art from the following description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views` of which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of the unit switches used in my system. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the master switch used in each building. lt ig. 4C shows, in a diagrammatical manner, the circuits of my alain system. lf 1g. 5 is a fragmentary, diagrammatical view, showing the connection of my system for controlling two buildings.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, showing one of my unit switches, 6 represents the base of my switch, which carries all of the parts thereof. Arranged centrally on this base is the solenoid 7 of the device, connected with suitable terminals 8 and 9.

10 is the sliding core of the solenoid, which carries, at its lower end, the movable cross bar 11 of the device. This cross bar is made preferably of insulating material, `and carries at one end a contact rod 12 and at the other end a contact rod 12a. A. dash pot 28 is provided on each of my switches, having its plunger rod 29 secured to the under side of the cross bar 11 and preferably on the same axis as the core 10 of the solenoid. This dash pot retards the downward motion. of the cross arm. The contact rods 12 and 12a are arranged vertically in parallel relation, and are slidably disposed in suitable bearing plates 13, carried by the base. Direct-ly beneath each of the contact rods 12 and 12L is disposed a mercury cup 1i in which the lower ends of the rods are immersed when the switch is lowered. The contact rod 12 is connected by means of a flexible lead 15 to a terminal 1G, and the contact rod 12n is connected by a similar lead 17 to a. terminal 18. The terminal 16 is connected with the terminal 9 by means of a wire 73.

is a metallic plate which extends across the lower edge of the base 6 and contacts with the mercury cups 14, thereby connecting them electrically.

Secured to the base 6, and in the path of travel of the cross bar 11, is a contact plate 19, which is connected with a terminal. 26 by means of a lead 27 (shown in dotted lines). This plate has a plurality of contacts 20, which vary in number with the different switches being used. Carried by the cross bar 11 and engageable with the contacts 20 of the contact plate is a brush 21. This brush is connected with a contact pin 22 by means of a lead 23, and the contact pin 22 is connected to a terminal 25 by means of a flexible lead 24.

The length of the rods 12 and 12a and cup 35 when the cross bar 11 descends.

the height of the mercury in the cups 14 are so proportioned that the lower ends of the rods will contact with the mercury before the brush 21 strikes the first contact point 20 on the contact plate 19. Thus, when one of the main circuits of my system is, for any reason, opened the rods 12 and 1 2a will be connected together and cause the solenoid to be energized, thereby preventing the movable part of the switch from falling.

The master switch, shown in Fig. 3, differs from the unit switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2, only in that it is provided with an additional mercury cup 35 and a ground contac/t rod 36. This contact rod 36 is connected with the contact pin 22, or preferably made a part thereof, and is arranged to engage with the mercury contained in the mercury The rod 36 is arranged to contact with the mercury just after the brush 21 passes the contact points 20 on the plate 19, so that the burglar alarm circuit is closed between the terminals25 and 26 when the master switch is down. This mercury cup is connected with the terminal 26, and these parts form a shunt for permanently connecting together the terminals 25 and 26 when the cross bai1 of the master switch has moved to its lowermost position. Y

Reference is now to be had to Fig. 4, where I have shown my alarm system with the switches and other parts in a diagrammatical manner. In this figure, 37 is the usual watchmans tape relay, which is located in the central signal station and 41 is the watchmans relay battery. 38, 39 and 40 are the usual watchmans and fire alarm call boxes, connected in series and located at regular positions in the building being guarded. 42 and 43 are the unit switches and 44 the master switch of my system. One of the unit switches may be located at each side of the building, or one may be provided at the windows in one room, and for convenience of illustration, I have shown one switch arranged between each of the watchmans call boxes. One master switch is provided in each building being guarded by my system and located in any convenient place. The switch 42 I have shown connected between the call boxes 38 and 39; the switch 43 between the boxes 39 and 40, and the master switch 44 between the call box 40 and the watchmans relay battery 41. The unit switches 42 and'43 are connected in series with these boxes; and the box 38 is connected withv the terminal 9 of the switch 42 by means of the wire v45, the other side of the switch 42 having its terminal 18 connected with the box 39 by means of the wire 46. The box 39 is connected with the terminalf9 of the switch 43 by means of the wire 47, the terminal 18 of this switch being connected with the box 40 by means of the wire 48. The call box 40 is connected with the terminal 18 of the master switch 44 by means of the wire 49 and connected in series with this wire is a master switch lifting battery 50. `The terminal 18 of the master switch 44 is also connected with one side of the watchmans tape relay 37, and with the watchmans relay battery 41 by means of wires 51 and 51. The other` side of the watchmans tape relay 37 is connected with the terminal 9 of the master switch 44 by means of a wire 52. The terminal 8 of the master switch 44 is connected with the call box 38 by means of a wire 53.

Each of the unit switches 42 and 43 is provided with a lifting battery 54 and 55, respectively. Wires 56v and 57 connect the batteries 54 and 55, respectively, with the terminals 8 and 18 of the two switches. A small single pole switch 58 is preferably placed in the circuit formed by the wires 56 and 57, and a like switch 59 is placed in the circuit formed by the wire 57 so that either of these switches will be operated when the window or door, at which they are located, is opened or closed.

Each of the switches 42, 43 and 44 have their terminals 26 grounded at points 61, 62 and 63, respectively. 64 is the burglai"s tape relay of my system, which is located in the central station. One side of this relay is grounded at 65, and the other side is connected in series with a burglar relay battery 66 and an annunciator 67. This annunciator may be of any suitable style, but is preferably of the drop type, whereby a visible signal is given when any one of the switches is being operated. Connected with the annunciator 67 is a wire G8, which extends to the last switch 42 and is connected to the terminal 25 thereof. This wire 68 has branch wires 69 and 70, which connect it with the terminals 25 of the switches 43 and 44, respectively.

For convenience of description, I will term the circuits formed by the wires 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 51a, 52 and 53 the main circuits, or the circuits which are connected to one side of the switches at the terminals 9 and 18. These main circuits are normally closed. These circuits comprise what is ordinarily termed the watchmans call box and lire alarm circuit. That part of the main circuit which is formed by the wires 51, 51 and 52, connecting the watchmans relay 37 and battery 41 with the terminals 9 and 18 of the master switch, I will term the watchmans relay circuit. The circuits formed by the wires 56 and 57 I will term the switch lifting circuits, which are normally closed. The circuits formed by the wire 68, with its branches 69 and 70, connecting with the terminals 25 of the switches, the leads 24 and 23, contact brushes 21, contact points 20 of the plates 19, leads 27, terminals 26, ground connections 61, 62 and 63, ground 65, relay 64, leads 71, battery 66, wire 72 and annunciator 67, I will term the burglar alarm circuits, which are normally open circuits.

The switch 42 is shown in its abnormal position, or in the position it will assume when the circuit, formed by the wire 56, is either opened by means of the switch 58 or is cut by a burglar. rlhe switch 43 is shown in its normal position, or in the position when the circuit, .formed by the wire 57, is closed. rlhe switch 44 is also in its normal position, or in the position it will occupy when all of the main circuits are closed.

Then the main circuits and the switch lifting circuits are closed, the batteries 41, 54, 55 and 50 will be connected in series with each other and with the watchmans call and tire alarm boxes 38, 39 and 40, watchmans relay 37 and the solenoid 7 of each of the switches 42, 43 and 44.

lVhen one of the switch raising circuits 56 or 57, which are wired around the windows or doors being guarded, is cut, or one of the switches 58 or 59 is opened or closed, say, for instance, the circuit 56 of the switch 42, the solenoid of this switch will be deenergized and the cross bar thereof will fall to the position shown in Fig. 4. In the downward passage of the movable part of the switch, the brush 21, carried thereby, will move past the contacts 20 of the Contact plate 19, and there being four contacts shown on this switch, four marks will be made on the burglars tape relay 64, and thus indicate that switch 42 has been operated. When the brush 21 passes the first cont-act point 20, the annunciator 67 will also be operated and thus call the attention of the attendant to the relay. When the brush contacts with the points 20 of the contact plate 19, current will flow from the burglar relay battery 66 over the wire 71, through the burglar relay 64 to the ground 65, thence to ground 61 of the switch 42, terminal 26, lead 27, points 2() oi the Contact plate 19, brush 21, leads 23 and 24, terminal of the switch, wire 68, annunciator 67 and wire 72 to the other side of the battery. When, for instance, the circuit formed by the wire 57 of the switch 43 is opened or closed., the cross bar of the switch will operate and the brush 21 passing the three points 20 of the contact plate 19 on this switch will indicate three marks on the tape of the burglars relay and so on for any number of switches, each of which will be provided with a. dif` ferent number of contact points 2O so that the exact location of any one of the switchesl being operated may bc known from the central station.

l/llhen any one of the wires 45, 46, 47, 48, 49. 51, 51a 52 or 53, forming the main circuits is cut, the master switch 44 will give the warning. The solenoid 7 of this switch will be deenergized and the cross bar of this switch will drop. As it falls the brush 21 will pass the contact points 20 of the switch and indicate on the burglar tape that the master switch has been operated. In the drawings, two points 2O are shown on this switch, and two marks will therefore be made on the burglar relay tape, thus identifying it from the unit switches. When the brush 21 of the master switch has passed the two contact points 20, the ground contact rod 36, will contact with the mercury in the cup and thus close the circuit between the terminals 25 and 26, thereby showing that the master switch is down by indieating a continuous mark on the tape of the burglar relay 64. .lust as soon as any part of the main circuit is cut, the cross bars of the unit switches 42 and 43 will tend to descend, but as hercinbefore pointed out, the ends of the rods 12 and 12L will touch the mercury in the cups 14 before the brush 21 contacts with the points of the contact plate 19. When the ends of these rods touch the mercury in the cups 14 l a circuit will be established through the mercury in the cups and the metallic plate 60, thereby shunting the main circuit and connecting the local lifting battery circuit. Just as soon as this short circuit is established, the current from the lifting battery 54, for instance. will pass through the wire 56, switch 58, terminal 18, lead 17, rod 12, thence through the mercury in the cups 14 to the metallic plate 60, the rod 12, through the lead 15. terminal 26, wire 73, to the terminal 9, and thence through the solenoid 7 to terminal 8, and to the other side of the battery 54, thereby energizing the solenoid 7. `When the solenoid is energized, the cross bar of the switch will be drawn up out of the 1nercury, whereupon the circuit will be broken again, allowing the cross bar to fall. The

cross bar of the switch will continue to rise and fall until the main circuit has been closed and the lifting circuit completed through the main circuits. This will occur in each of the switches located at windows and doors in the building being guarded. Thus. the cross bar of each of the unit switches in the system will be kept elevated so that the brush will not contact with the points 20 of the Contact plate 1,9. thereby making it impossible for any of the unit switches to indicate on the burglars relay tape when any of the main circuits .have been cut and the master switch is operating.

ldhen the cross arm of the master switch is down and the rods 12 and 1221 immersed in the mercury cups 14, a short circuit will be established, across the rods 12 and 12a and the terminals 9 and 18, by means of the mercury cups 14, the plate 60, and the connecting wires and leads 15, 17 and 73. This will close the watchmans relay circuit, formed current from the battery 41 will continue to pass through this short circuit, because it is of a lower resistance than the coil of the solenoid 7 of the master switch. However, just as soon as the break in the main circuit is 10 repaired, the master switch, lifting battery 50, together with the series of circuits formed by the wire 49, the call boxes 40, 39 and 38, the lifting circuits of the switches 43 and 42, (hereinbefore described) the wire 53 and solenoid 7 of the master switch will be connected in parallel with the battery 41 and the watchmans relay circuit, and the current from the battery 50 will pass through the solenoid 7 of the master switch and raise the 2o cross arm thereof. l/Vhen the rods, carried by the cross arm, are drawn up out of the mercury, the short circuit across the battery 41 and watchmans relay will be broken, and then the batteries 41 and 50 and the main and watchmans circuits will be connected in series and the full strength of both batteries passed through the solenoid of the master switch. When this occurs, the other switches 42 and 43 will be permanently raised and held up in their normal positions.

The operation of the watchmans and lire alarm call boxes, in no wise, aects the operation of my burglar system. When one of these boxes is operated, either for the regular call or for lire alarm, the main circuits and the switch lifting circuits, hereinbefore referred to, will be intermittently interrupted and the solenoids of the switches will be momentarily denergized until the call has been given. The dash pots on the switches, however, so control the downward motion of the switch cross bars as to make this motion ver;T Llslow, so that the rapidly operating call box has finished operating before the rods 12 and 12a of the switches have reached the top of the mercury. Just as soon'as the box has been operated, the circuit is again permanently closed and the cross arms of the switches raised by the renergizing solenoids.

My switches being arranged so that they operate when they are moved upwardly or downwardly, a signal is given at the central station when any window or door is closed, as well as opened. Thus, it is possible for the central station to know when a place of business is opened in the morning and closed at night, as well as to detect the entrance of burglars during the night. inasmuch as the burglar relay circuit is separate from the main circuits, the system will be operated even though afshort circuit is placed across the wires 51 and 52 entering the building, which is often done in an attempt to put the system in such shape that the signal will not be given when the building is entered.

When it is desired to connect my system with more than one building, each additional building is provided with a master switch and any number of unit switches 42 and 43, which are connected with the watchmans call and fire alarm circuits of such buildings in the same manner as hereinbefore described. Referring to Fig. 5, where I show in a fragmentary manner the connections to an additional building, it will be seen that three wires 74, and 76 are run to the other building. The wires 74 and 75, which form a part of the watchmans call and fire alarm circuit, are tapped into and connected in series with the wire 51 of this circuit shown in Fig. 4. The wire 76, which forms a part of the burglar alarm circuit is connected` in parallel with the wire 68, shown in Fig. 4.

Then my system is used in additional buildings, it is, of course, understood that the individual watchmans call and unit switches of the other buildings each have their own distinguishing number so that but one watchmans tape relay and battery and one burglar tape relay, annunciator and battery are required for any number of additional buildings. The wires 74 and 75 are connected with the terminals 9 and 18 of the master switch in the other building, inasmuch as there is but one watchmans relay circuit for the entire system no matter how many buildings are on the system. The wire 7 6, connecting the wire GS of the burglar alarm circuit, is connected in parallel with the wire in the system of the other buildings which correspond to the wire G8 in the circuit shown in Fig. 4. r1`he arrangement of the circuits in the other buildings is identical with that shown in Fig. 4, except that as hereinbefore noted there is no burglar alarm circuit for these additional buildings. When three buildings are connected in the system, the third will have the terminals 9 and 18 of its master switch connected in series with either the wire 74 or 75 leading to the second building, and so on throughout any number of buildings, the watchmans call and lire alarm circuits of each building being thereby connected in series with the next building and so on throughout the entire system. The operation of the various switches and parts of the additional buildking or buildings is precisely like the operation of similar parts of the illustrative system described, except that no mercury is placed in the cup 35 of the master switch of any building, whereby the lowering of the cross bar of this switch does not permanently close the burglar alarm circuit, but after indicating which master switch has been operated, leaves the burglar relay in its normal position. Thus, when the master switch in one building is operated, the switch in the other building will not be thrown out of commission.

nieoae It is to be understood that the illustrative system herein shown and described is only a preferred embodiment of my invention and that some modifications of the circuits and parts shown may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Vhat I claim is:

l. In a burglar' alarm system, the combination with a normally closed watchmans call and lire alarm circuit, of a plurality of normally closed switch lifting circuits normally in series with said watchmans circuit, a. plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controlled by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, whereby when either the watchmans circuit or any one of the switch lifting circuits is opened or closed, except through any one of the watchmans or lire alarm call boxes, one of the burglar alarm circuits will be closed and a signal given.

2. In a burglar alarm system, the combination with a normally closed watchmans call and fire alarm circuit, of a unit switch, a master switch, a plurality of normally closed switch lifting circuits normally in series with said watchmans circuit, and a plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controlled by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, whereby when either the watchmans circuit or any one of the switch lifting circuits is opened or closed, except through any one of the watchmans fire alarm or call boxes, one of the burglar alarm circuits will be closed and a signal given.

3. In a burglar alarm system, the combination with a normally closed watchmans call and fire alarm circuit of a unit switch, a master switch, a plurality of normally closed switch lifting circuits in series with said watchmans circuit, said switches forming a part of said circuits, and a plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controlled by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, whereby when either the watchmans circuit or any one of the switch lifting circuits is opened or closed, except through any one of the watchmans or re alarm call boxes, one of the burglar alarm circuits will be closed and a signal given.

l. In a burglar alarm system, the combination with a normally closed watchmans call and fire alarm circuit of a unit switch, a master switch, each of said switches being u provided with a solenoid, a plurality of normally closed switch lifting circuits in series with said watchmans circuits and said solenoids, and a plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controlled by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, whereby when either the watchmans circuit or any one of the switch lifting circuits is opened or closed, except through any one of the watchmans or lire alarm call boxes, one of the burglar alarm circuits will be closed and a signal given.

5. In a burglar alarm system, the combination with a normally closed watchmans call and fire alarm circuit of a unit switch, a master switch, each of said switches being provided with a solenoid, movable contact rods, mercury cups, means for connecting said mercury cups, a plurality of normally closed lifting circuits normally in series with said watchmanls circuit and said solenoids, said solenoids, rods, cups and connector means being in series with each other and with said lifting circuits, and la plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controller by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, whereby when either the watchmans circuit or any one of the switch lifting circuits is opened or closed, except through any one of the watchmans or fire alarm call boxes, one of the burglar alarm circuits will be closed and a signal given.

G. In a burglar alarm system, the com bination with a normally closed watchmans call and lire alarm circuit, of a plurality of normally closed switch lifting circuits normally in series with said watchmans circuit, a plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controlled by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, each of said circuits comprising means for giving a predetermined signal when the switch is operated, said burglar alarm circuits being controlled by said watchmans circuit and said lifting circuits, whereby when either -the watchmans circuit or any one of the switch lifting circuits is opened or closed, except through any one of the watchmans or fire alarm call boxes, one of the burglar alarm circuits will be closed.

7. In a burglar alarm system, the combination of a unit switch and a master switch, each of said switches comprising a contact plate having a plurality of contact points, a movable brush engageable with said contact points, a ground connection for each of said switches and tape relay, a plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits, said contact points, brushes and ground connections of each switch being in series with one of said burglar alarm circuits and said relay.

8. In a burglar alarm system, the com bination with a normally closed watchmans call and lire alarm circuit, of a unit switch, a master switch, a plurality of normally closed switch lifting circuits in series with said watchmans circuit, a plurality of normally open burglar alarm circuits controlled by said watchmans and said lifting circuits, said master switch being provided with a movable ground contact rod, mercury oups and Iground connections, said rod, oups and connections being in series With each other and with the burglar circuit of the master switch, whereby when said master switch is operated said last mentioned burglar circuit will be permanently closed until the said switch is again operated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed iny name 1n the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES M. WATKINS. Witnesses:

J. WM. ELLIS, WALTER H. KELLEY.

ive cents each, by addressing` lthe Commissioner of Patents,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for f z Washington, D. C. 

